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Little League Game of the Week: Cortez Scrappers crowned 2014 champions

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014 3:53 AM
Cameron Daves fields a ball in center field.
Tegan Whiteskunk slides safely into home as Kevin Burkett gets the throw a little late.

Thanks to talented players and spectacular plays, the 2014 Cortez Little League baseball season was a memorable one.

Capping off the year on June 21, three teams were crowned division champions, and three other teams received second-place medals.

Headlining the group of division winners were the Scrappers, who captured the Major League division championship with a 22-2 victory over the Redwings.

After the game remained scoreless through the first inning, the Scrappers scored 12 runs in the bottom of the second inning thanks in part to RBI singles by Cole Gropp, Mordecai Risenhoover, Branson Smith and Kevin Purkat and JJ Brunner.

The inning's biggest hit came courtesy of Makayla Long, however, as the 11-year-old phenom slugged a towering two-run home run at least 20 feet beyond the left-center-field fence.

"It was a perfect pitch down the middle, and I turned on it," said Long.

The Redwings attempted to battle back in the top of the third inning, scoring twice after Teagan Whiteskunk lined a sharp single up the middle.

Thanks to impressive pitching by Long however, the Redwings were unable to add any runs to their total as the Scrappers cruised to victory.

"It was actually quite amazing," said Scrappers player Dylan Barb, describing the win. "The first couple of innings, we were doing bad and felt down. Then we just started hitting."

"We get along really well," added Scrappers player Hayden Gray. "We're good friends."

Joining the Scrappers as division champions were the Riverdogs, who emerged victories in the Micros division and the Marauders, who finished first in the Minors division.

More than 260 players participated in the Cortez Little League this season, making it one of the area's largest youth baseball seasons to date.

With league games now complete, the league's top players will join Cortez Little League all-star teams, which will compete with all-star teams from around the state.

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